Design is not Art.
by Peter DiBart

I've always been frustrated upon entering a meeting and being introduced as the "art guy" or the "artist in charge of the project." I understand that for those who are not directly involved with the actual designing on particular engagements this is just a case of semantics.

While it may seem like a small thing, the differences between artist and designer can be vast. In terms of mechanics, each craft may be indistinguishable from one another. Each use the tools of the trade to create unique sensory context that is, in some way, meaningful to its audience. The gulf between the two terms comes when you look at their underlying meanings and how it relates to a business solution.

Art is… The highly personal expression of the artist whose creative results need only be answerable to the artist him/herself.

Design is… The execution of pre-defined and measurable goals and is answerable to those goals as the measure of its success.

So, as a designer, I am acting on the behalf of the project and its goals, not my personal whims and desires. While most Designers pursue some purely artistic endeavors, in the business environment their role as a Designer should be clear and distinct from that of the Artist. There is no such thing a Design for Design's sake.